Rogers Area is lit up only by neighbouring buildings during Earth Hour in Vancouver, BC, March 23, 2013. Lights went out for an hour at 8:30pm.Arlen Redekop
/ PNG

Lights are out at Rogers Arena during Earth Hour in Vancouver, BC, March 23, 2013.Arlen Redekop
/ PNG

Some large electronic billboards stand dark on Times Square as their lights were turned off too mark "Earth Hour" in New York, March 23, 2013. More than 150 countries across the world, switched off their lights for an hour at 20:30 local time to support action to create a sustainable future for the planet.Emmanuel Dunand
/ AFP

The Empire State Buidling (CR) stands dark as its lights were turned off too mark "Earth Hour" in New York, March 23, 2013. More than 150 countries across the world, switched off their lights for an hour at 20:30 local time to support action to create a sustainable future for the planet.Emmanuel Dunand
/ AFP

South Korean students hold an Earth Hour LED display during the 7th annual Earth Hour global warming campaign in Seoul on March 23, 2013. One minute brightly lit, the next plunged into darkness -- iconic landmarks around the world will cut their lights on March 23 for the “Earth Hour” campaign against climate change.KIM JAE-HWAN
/ AFP/Getty Images

People light candles as they take part in an event to promote “Earth Hour” in the financial district of Shanghai on March 23, 2013. Iconic landmarks and skylines were plunged into darkness as the “Earth Hour” switch-off of lights around the world got under way including China’s commercial hub of Shanghai to raise awareness of climate change.PETER PARKS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Tokyo residents pedal to generate electricity to light LED lights of the mirror ball inside an art installation during the 7th annual Earth Hour global warming campaign in Tokyo on March 23, 2013. One minute brightly lit, the next plunged into darkness -- iconic landmarks around the world will cut their lights Saturday for the “Earth Hour” campaign against climate change.RIE ISHII
/ AFP/Getty Images

Tokyo residents pedal to generate electricity to light LED lights of the mirror ball inside an art installation during the 7th annual Earth Hour global warming campaign in Tokyo on March 23, 2013. One minute brightly lit, the next plunged into darkness -- iconic landmarks around the world will cut their lights Saturday for the “Earth Hour” campaign against climate change.RIE ISHII
/ AFP/Getty Images

Balinese men burn lanterns during Earth Hour at a hotel in Nusa dua on the resort island of Bali on March 23, 2013. Bali participated in the global campaign for Earth Hour.SONNY TUMBELAKA
/ AFP/Getty Images

The ArtScience Museum and the Marina Bay Sands is seen before (top) and after the lights were switched off to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Singapore, Singapore. Businesses and households around the world switch their lights off for an hour at 20:30 local time on March 23, to celebrate Earth Hour and raise awareness about climate change and renewable energy. Earth hour began in Australia in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Suhaimi Abdullah
/ Getty Images

In this composite image the Sydney Harbour Bridge is seen before on March 21 (top) and after the lights were switched off to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Businesses and households around the world will turn their lights off for one hour at 20:30 local time today, to celebrate Earth Hour, raise awareness about climate change and to show support for the use of renewable energy. Earth hour began in Sydney in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Lisa Maree Williams
/ Getty Images

Balinese men burn lanterns during Earth Hour at a hotel in Nusa dua on the resort island of Bali on March 23, 2013. Bali participated in the global campaign for Earth Hour.SONNY TUMBELAKA
/ AFP/Getty Images

This combo of pictures shows the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest with the lights on (top) and with the lights off (bottom) during the annual Earth Hour event on March 23, 2013. Millions of people were expected to switch off their lights for Earth Hour on March 23 in a global effort to raise awareness about climate change that was even to be monitored from space.WANG ZHAO
/ AFP/Getty Images

The Arts and Science Museum and the Singapore city skyline is seen before (left) and after the lights were switched off to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Singapore, Singapore. Businesses and households around the world switch their lights off for an hour at 20:30 local time on March 23, to celebrate Earth Hour and raise awareness about climate change and renewable energy. Earth hour began in Australia in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Suhaimi Abdullah
/ Getty Images

South Korean students hold Earth Hour LED displays during the 7th annual Earth Hour global warming campaign in Seoul on March 23, 2013. One minute brightly lit, the next plunged into darkness -- iconic landmarks around the world will cut their lights on March 23 for the “Earth Hour” campaign against climate change.KIM JAE-HWAN
/ AFP/Getty Images

Performers dance in front of Hanoi’s Opera House during an “Earth Hour” event held in Hanoi on March 23, 2013. Iconic landmarks and skylines were plunged into darkness on Saturday as the “Earth Hour” switch-off of lights around the world got under way to raise awareness of climate change.HOANG DINH NAM
/ AFP/Getty Images

In this composite image the Opera House is seen before on March 21 (top) and after the lights were powered by ‘GreenPower’ and glowed dark green to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Businesses and households around the world will turn their lights off for on hour at 20:30 local time today, to celebrate Earth Hour, raise awareness about climate change and to show support for the use of renewable energy. Earth hour began in Sydney in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Lisa Maree Williams
/ Getty Images

This picture shows the landmark Tokyo Tower beside the Zojoji temple illuminated before the start of the 7th annual Earth Hour global warming campaign in Tokyo on March 23, 2013. One minute brightly lit, the next plunged into darkness -- iconic landmarks around the world will cut their lights Saturday for the “Earth Hour” campaign against climate change.TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA
/ AFP/Getty Images

In this composite image the Luna Park entrance is seen before on March 21 (top) and after the lights were switched off to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Businesses and households around the world will turn their lights off for one hour at 20:30 local time today, to celebrate Earth Hour, raise awareness about climate change and to show support for the use of renewable energy. Earth hour began in Sydney in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Lisa Maree Williams
/ Getty Images

This composite photograph shows a huge LED sky screen before and during the Earth Hour 2013 power switch off at the Central Business District on March 23, 2013 in Beijing, China. Earth Hour, launched in 2007 in Australia by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a global conservation group, calls on people, organizations and cities to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. local time.Feng Li
/ Getty Images

This general shot shows buildings from Manila’s financial district before the lights are turned off to mark Earth Hour in Manila on March 23, 2013. Millions of people were expected to switch off their lights for Earth Hour on March 23, in a global effort to raise awareness about climate change. Since it began in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become what environmental group WWF says is the world’s largest demonstration of support for action on carbon pollution.NOEL CELIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

A general view of the Indian Presidential Palace with lights switched off during an Earth Hour event in New Delhi on March 23, 2013. Millions of people were expected to switch off their lights for Earth Hour on March 23, in a global effort to raise awareness about climate change. Since it began in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become what environmental group WWF says is the world’s largest demonstration of support for action on carbon pollution.RAVEENDRAN
/ AFP/Getty Images

Performers dance in front of Hanoi’s Opera House during an “Earth Hour” event held in Hanoi on March 23, 2013. Iconic landmarks and skylines were plunged into darkness on Saturday as the “Earth Hour” switch-off of lights around the world got under way to raise awareness of climate change.HOANG DINH NAM
/ AFP/Getty Images

People light candles as they take part in an event to promote “Earth Hour” in the financial district of Shanghai on March 23, 2013. Iconic landmarks and skylines were plunged into darkness as the “Earth Hour” switch-off of lights around the world got under way including China’s commercial hub of Shanghai to raise awareness of climate change.PETER PARKS
/ AFP/Getty Images

People walk over the harbour bridge during the annual Earth Hour in Sydney on March 23, 2013. One minute brightly lit, the next plunged into darkness -- iconic landmarks around the world will cut their lights Saturday for the “Earth Hour” campaign against climate change.SAEED KHAN
/ AFP/Getty Images

Children turn on their LED lights moments before Taipei 101 building turns its lights off to observe international “Earth Hour” campaign, Saturday, March 23, 2013, in Taipei, Taiwan. Around 100 people gathered outside the skyscraper Saturday, using energy saving LED lights to observe the global event that encourages people to turn off their lights for 60 minutes.Wally Santana
/ AP

Lanterns are displayed during Earth Hour at a hotel in Nusa dua on the resort island of Bali on March 23, 2013. Bali participated in the global campaign for Earth Hour.SONNY TUMBELAKA
/ AFP/Getty Images

A general view of the Indian Presidential Palace with lights switched on, before an Earth Hour event in New Delhi on March 23, 2013. Millions of people were expected to switch off their lights for Earth Hour on March 23, in a global effort to raise awareness about climate change. Since it began in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become what environmental group WWF says is the world’s largest demonstration of support for action on carbon pollution.RAVEENDRAN
/ AFP/Getty Images

In this composite image the Sydney Harbour Bridge is seen before on March 21 (top) and after the lights were switched off to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Businesses and households around the world will turn their lights off for one hour at 20:30 local time today, to celebrate Earth Hour, raise awareness about climate change and to show support for the use of renewable energy. Earth hour began in Sydney in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Lisa Maree Williams
/ Getty Images

People light candles as they take part in an event to promote “Earth Hour” in the financial district of Shanghai on March 23, 2013. Iconic landmarks and skylines were plunged into darkness as the “Earth Hour” switch-off of lights around the world got under way including China’s commercial hub of Shanghai to raise awareness of climate change.PETER PARKS
/ AFP/Getty Images

In this composite image the Sydney Harbour Bridge is seen before on March 21 (top) and after the lights were switched off to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Businesses and households around the world will turn their lights off for one hour at 20:30 local time today, to celebrate Earth Hour, raise awareness about climate change and to show support for the use of renewable energy. Earth hour began in Sydney in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Lisa Maree Williams
/ Getty Images

The One Fullerton Park against the Singapore city skyline is seen before (top) and after the lights were switched off to recognize Earth Hour on March 23, 2013 in Singapore, Singapore. Businesses and households around the world switch their lights off for an hour at 20:30 local time on March 23, to celebrate Earth Hour and raise awareness about climate change and renewable energy. Earth hour began in Australia in 2007 and is now celebrated in over 150 countries around the world.Suhaimi Abdullah
/ Getty Images

Related

Vancouver, named Earth Hour Capital by the World Wildlife Foundation, was one of several Lower Mainland cities outperformed by Vancouver Island communities in the annual power-saving and anti-global warming event.

Residents in Comox and Courtenay topped the list of British Columbia’s most energetic Earth Hour participants by turning off lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and consuming almost 10 per cent less power, according to BC Hydro.

Meanwhile, Vancouver and Surrey (one of the 66 cities shortlisted to be the Earth Hour Capital) consumed 2.4 and 1.8 per cent less power, respectively.

Vancouver was chosen as the global ambassador for the event this year due to the city’s efforts to reduce pollution that causes climate change. It also received the highest number of online votes in a People’s Choice ballot.

This year, British Columbians saved 136 megawatt hours of electricity and reduced the provincial consumption by 1.95 per cent during the hour, according to BC Hydro. That is the equivalent of turning off more than 10 million 12.5-watt LED light bulbs, spokeswoman Simi Heer said.

Last year, during the event 121 megawatt hours were saved and the provincial electricity load was reduced by 1.67 per cent.

“I think what’s really important this year is for people to check out their own consumption,” said Heer, who added that exact data was unavailable from a lot of communities in the province’s north making it impossible to rank cities.

Heer lauded the controversial new smart meter system for allowing 1.1 million customers to access their online accounts, on BC Hydro’s website, to track their hourly consumption rates. About 140,000 of Hydro’s remaining customers will get join the smart meter system over the next several months.

“If you participated in Earth Hour that could have been easily offset by your neighbour not (turning off their lights),” Heer said. “So the best thing to do is to look at your own personal data and see if you’re able to make a difference.”

Events occurred across Metro Vancouver, with the University of B.C. holding its second annual open-mike event featuring acoustic performances, UBC improv and slam poetry.

Quinn Runkle, a fourth-year geography and environment sustainability student, is the director of Common Energy UBC, the largest student sustainability group on campus.

She anticipated that more than 100 people would turn out for UBC’s Earth Hour event, including a free music and dance show all lit by candles and some solar-powered lights, which she said had been charging in the sun all morning Saturday.

“This is more of a symbolic event because we recognize that one hour isn’t going to change the world,” she said on Saturday morning. “But it’s an important step in opening up the dialogue.”

Runkle said that everyone at Common Energy UBC was really proud and excited that Vancouver was crowned Earth Hour Capital, adding that the UBC has significantly contributed to Vancouver’s greenest city goals.

Last fall, the university opened a $34-million clean energy hub, and became Canada’s first university to produce clean heat and electricity for its campus from renewable bioenergy. UBC is also home to the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability, which is considered North America’s greenest building.

The WWF, which is the driving force behind Earth Hour, says 13-million Canadians turned off their lights for an hour last year in the symbolic event aimed at drawing awareness to climate change.

It’s unclear how many Canadians joined the seventh edition of Earth Hour, as data was not available before press time.

However, Earth Hour was embraced by hundreds of Canadian municipalities and many utilities have Earth Hour sections posted on their websites.

Even Canadian Astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield tweeted images from space in celebration of Earth Hour with his unique perspective on the world’s cities and natural wonders.

Steven Price, a conservation director with the World Wildlife Fund, says municipalities are a driving force behind Earth Hour.

“Now if we could get the provinces, territories and federal government more interested, we’ll be getting somewhere. And Earth Hour is meant to send a message, even if it’s quote a dark one, to them.”

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